Moneyline Bets
A moneyline bet is the most basic sports wager: pick the winner. There is no point spread, no margin requirement, no other condition — your team just has to win the game. The odds reflect the probability of each side winning, with shorter odds on favorites and longer odds on underdogs.
Example: Colts -150 vs. Texans +130
If you bet $150 on the Colts at -150 and the Colts win, you profit $100 (plus your stake back, for $250 total). If you bet $100 on the Texans at +130 and the Texans win, you profit $130 (for $230 total). If the team you picked loses, you lose your stake.
When to Use Moneyline Bets
Use moneyline bets when you have a strong opinion on which team will win but no view on the margin of victory. They're also the right choice for tight games where you think the spread is mispriced.
Pros
- Simplest bet type — no margin requirement
- Easy to compare across sportsbooks for the best price
- Pays as expected — no surprises from spreads or pushes
Cons
- Heavy favorites pay poorly relative to risk
- Underdogs require accurate handicapping to be profitable long-term
- No protection if your team loses by a single point
Common Mistakes
- Always betting heavy favorites: -300 favorites win ~75% of the time, but you risk $300 to win $100 — small losing streaks wipe out gains
- Ignoring the implied probability: -150 implies a 60% win rate. If you think the favorite wins less than 60% of the time, the price is wrong
- Treating moneylines as "safe" — favorites still lose roughly 1 in 4 to 1 in 3 games on average
FAQ
What does a -150 moneyline mean?
It means you must risk $150 to win $100. The "-" denotes a favorite. The implied probability is 60%.
What does a +130 moneyline mean?
It means a $100 stake wins $130 if the bet hits. The "+" denotes an underdog. The implied probability is roughly 43%.